Legal Definitions - untrue

The term untrue describes something that is not factually correct or accurate, or a person who fails to uphold a commitment, standard, or belief.

Here are some examples to illustrate its application:

• Example 1 (Factual Inaccuracy): During a trial, a witness testifies that they saw the defendant at the crime scene at 8:00 PM. However, security footage later reveals the defendant was demonstrably elsewhere at that exact time. In this scenario, the witness's testimony is considered untrue because it is factually incorrect and inaccurate, regardless of whether the witness intentionally lied or simply misremembered.

  This example illustrates untrue as a statement that does not align with verifiable facts.

• Example 2 (Breach of Faith or Standard): A public official takes an oath to serve the community impartially and without personal gain. If that official is later found to have used their position to award contracts to a company owned by a family member, they would be considered untrue to their oath and the public trust. Their actions demonstrate a failure to adhere to the standards and commitments they publicly undertook.

  This example demonstrates untrue in the context of a person failing to be faithful or consistent with a standard, belief, or commitment.

• Example 3 (Misrepresentation in Documentation): A company submits a financial report to investors claiming a certain level of profit for the quarter. An independent audit subsequently reveals that the company intentionally overstated its revenue and understated its expenses, making the reported profit figure significantly higher than reality. The financial report, in this case, contains untrue information because the figures presented are not correct or accurate representations of the company's actual financial performance.

  This example highlights untrue as a characteristic of information or data that is inaccurate or misleading.